Life as a Hospice Volunteer Coordinator
What did you do before working at Dorothy House?
I have a background working in sales and marketing but also in the charity sector. In the charity sector I've worked previously as a fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer Support for a few years, but my most recent role before coming to Dorothy House in the charity sector was at a charity called Read Easy UK.
What made you want to work for Dorothy House?
I live in Bradford on Avon and ever since I've lived here the Hospice has made such an impression on me as an amazing local charity.
Six years ago, I had a really close friend who had three young children. She was diagnosed with cancer and was cared for at Dorothy House. She actually worked at Dorothy House as a physiotherapist. The experience of watching the care that she and her husband and the children all received from Dorothy House moved me greatly.
I visited her when she was in the Inpatient Unit in her last days. I think that that whole experience and seeing the support and care that she and the family got just cemented any thoughts I'd already had about wanting to work at Dorothy House.
What is the best thing about your job?
I love being out in the shops with the volunteers, chatting to them, sharing experiences, whether they are older or younger. It is a really supportive environment to be in and I have found that they are flexible and understanding wherever they can be, meeting my needs around having a five year old son to look after as well.